Soo 1997 birth-year class a good one
They have moved up and on in multiple numbers from the Soo Thunder minor midget hockey team of 2012-2013 that was coached by Sal Lamantea and Jerry Lortie Jr.
To be sure, the 1997 birth-year class of Sault Ste. Marie youngsters is proving to be a good one.
Consider the following list of Soo players with 1997 birth dates who have taken their game to a higher level.
Blake Speers. The high-scoring forward, who was a first-round, Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Soo Greyhounds, is now the captain of his hometown team. Speers is also a National Hockey League draft pick of the New Jersey Devils.
Mario Culina. A talented goalie who back-stopped the Soo Thunderbirds to the 2014-2015 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and Dudley-Hewitt Cup, Central Canada championships, Culina is now a rookie net-minder with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
Owen Headrick. The plum defenseman parlayed two outstanding NOJHL seasons with the Thunderbirds into a Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association scholarship with the cross-river Lake Superior State Lakers. As a Laker freshman this season, Headrick is the youngest player in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association — and one of its better first-year skaters.
Caleb Boman. A hard-skating, high-scoring defenseman with the NOJHL Thunderbirds, Boman has a future commitment to play at the Division 1, NCAA level with the Niagara Purple Eagles.
Frankie Pucci. The small-but-skilled-and-speedy forward who plays with an edge recently had his OHL rights acquired by the Greyhounds from the Erie Otters. Pucci is currently a high-end producer with the Niagara Falls Canucks of the Greater Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
Matt Caruso. Another small forward with good speed, Caruso is the leading scorer with the NOJHL Thunderbirds.
Jake Palmerio. Known for his tireless work ethic and dependable, all-around play, the hustling forward is the only Canadian skater with the Michigan-based Soo Eagles of the NOJHL.
Jason Uhl. A good skater with decent size, Uhl is a top 6 forward and among the scoring leaders with the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL.
Adam McPhail. After spending parts of last season and this one with the Saginaw Spirit and Peterborough Petes of the OHL, the lanky forward recently returned home to play for the NOJHL Thunderbirds.
Andrew Barbeau. The hard-nosed defender is a teammate of the aforementioned Pucci in Niagara Falls. Barbeau has also played in the NOJHL with the Thunderbirds and in the North American Hockey League with the erstwhile Michigan Warriors.
Cole Lussier. A skilled, good-sized forward, Lussier is playing with the Kanata Stallions of the Central Canada Hockey League.
Brandon Gordon. A rookie NOJHLer, Gordon is the backup goalie with the NOJHL Thunderbirds.
Of note, a younger player from the Thunder minor midgets of 2012-2013, 1998 birth-year forward Nicolas Sicoly is an OHL rookie with the Guelph Storm.
1996 birth year also a talented pool, OHL list includes Michael amadio, Anthony Stefano, Jake kment, cody Caron, Brendan Perlini… Not to mention Jaren belini, Brandon grandenetti, Cade Nolan playing nojhl, and Cameron Hackett playing NCAA and kealen oflynn playing junior A in southern Ontario… Probably forgetting some names as well. Two NHL draft picks, and what, 8 OHL draft picks? All done through a major midget program instead of a minor midget
George,
For the record, Perlini left the Soo to play bantam and then major midget hockey in Detroit and was drafted from there into the OHL. Hackett also left the Soo at a young age and played bantam and midget in Vaughan. He too was drafted into the OHL before choosing to go the NCAA route.
Those are the facts, George.
Regards,
Randy
Still both products of the soo hockey system, and the birth year has the more long term potential in my opinion
You are missing the point, I believe, George.
You tried to compare Soo minor midget v. major midget by using the 1996 birth year examples.
And no where did I mention long-term potential. I merely did a feature on the 1997 birth-year class. Do you have an issue with that?
Lets not overlook a very talented young player matthew keenan
You are correct, Lindy, Matthew is a good player from that age group and Soo Thunder team who went on to play high school hockey (I believe) as did Alex Morin, who was drafted into the OHL by Plymouth. I wasn’t overlooking anyone, just pointing out that 12 1997 birth-year players from that team are currently playing Major Junior, Junior A or NCAA Division 1 hockey.
A similar article should be written about the 96 class, equally as talented, dozen players playing at a higher level, no issue with the article just giving thoughts on a future article, let’s not also forget ryker killins playing ferris state NCAA…
Headricks will sign with an N.H.L. Team at some point is my guess. Another good article about our local boys.
Just for info regarding that team, the whole team had two great years, losing just 1 single regular season game in those two seasons. Even if not all of the players continued their hockey careers they all deserve the credit for the Team’s succuss.
Good article RR amazing how many kids from that team have moved up.
Bottom line…..both great birth years for the Soo and more to come. Whatever happened to Alex Morin? Me thinks that in light of all the attention concussions are getting, promising athlete’s like Alex if so they choose, should be telling their stories so that players and parents alike can be informed about the potential long and short term risk associated with concussion. It’s not something that should be taken lightly and there is no shame in stepping back to preserve a healthy, happy future! Alex is definitely one kid that would have made the highlight reels at many levels but had that snatched from him. More should be done to protect our athletes!
If Alex wants to tell his story, I will be happy to relay it for him.